Shuffleboard lubricant



Patented Nov. 8, 1949 Carmine Decepoli, Belleville; N. J.

No Drawing. Application March 17, v1949.,

Serial No. 82,019

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and novel composition. fortreating shuffleboard surfaces and the like. and utilizes the same principles that I a e. uCceSSfully employed in a composition described and claimed n my o-p i s p tio SerialNumber 15,729, filed March 18, 1948.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a Q nPQSi iOn for use on .a shufileboard or similar game, board surface to reduce the sliding friction between it and weights or other game pieces played thereon and to reduce abrasive action sometimes found in conventional waxes. Another object is to permit variation in such composition to give a faster or a slower board as may be desired,

Still another object is to provide a composition. that is resistant to humid atmospheres and will function uniformly under various conditions of humidity.

A further object'is to permit such a composition to be readily made, packed, shipped and stored until used and to afford with each application 9. longer period of beneficial results.

Other objects will appear from the description which follows.

Heretofore, to protect the surface of a shuffleboard and to increase the speed of weights sliding over it, there has been most frequently used a wax and a meal ground from corn, rye, barley, nut shells or other similar vegetable matter. These meal and wax compositions require frequent renewal on a playing surface, particularly on humid days when moisture is absorbed by them and the board slowed. Then too there is a tendency for a weight to plow through such a composition rather than to ride over it. My composition eliminates these disadvantages and gives a positive lubricating effect between the playing surface and the weights sliding over it, resulting in a faster board.

My new composition, like that described in my co-pending application, hereinbefore referred to, is a mixture of plastic beads and the conventional wax and meal mixture, proportioned so that the beads acting like ball bearings are held in loose arrangement by the finer material. When used alone the beads make the board too fast and tend to scatter and fly off the playing surface. By carefully proportioning the beads to the wax and meal mixture any desired speed, within reasonable limits may be secured.

In my continued experimentation with various plastics I have found polymerized methyl methacrylate beads to possess the characteristics desired in my composition and to be com merciallyevailable in such form. They are of rounded form, tough and smooth. By screening the commercially availablebeads I obtain the desired uniformity in size and prefer to use beads'that' pass a #40 U'. S. Standard screen and at least of which are retained on a #60 screen.

The wax and meal mixture is prepared by any of the well known customary methods. I have successfully used several grain meals, such as corn, rye and'barley' and have also used a meal of ground nut shells. 'I prefer to use a meal particle size that passes a #40 'U. S. Standard screen and is retained on a #QO U. S.-Standard screen. Generally parafiin and carnauba wax in a wax solvent-are added tothe. meal. and the mix is then tumbledpdried on driers in a steam room and, subsequently. cooled. ,When this mix is cold, the :beads are added and-thoroughly mixed with the waxed meal.

Of the several grain meals and the meal of ground nut shells I prefer to use corn meal since it is economical to use in this composition.

While, as I have previously stated, the percentage of beads in the composition may be varied depending upon the "speed" sought, I find that the average user will want a composition containing about 10% of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads by weight, graded as described hereinbefore, and by weight Of the described waxed meal. A lesser percentage makes the playing surface slower and a greater percentage makes it faster.

The composition is applied to a playing board surface in the customary manner and not only gives a better lubricated surface of more lasting quality, but it gives a cushioning effect between colliding weights. This comes about from the action of some of the beads which under motion bound and rebound on the playing surface and get between the weights cushioning them and reducing the sound of the impact.

From the foregoing it is apparent that many modifications may be made in the specific examples given without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A composition of matter comprising polymerized methyl methacrylate beads of substantially uniform size, wax and a grain meal.

2. A composition of matter comprising polymerized methyl methacrylate beads of substantially uniform size, wax and a corn meal.

3. A composition of matter comprising polymerized methyl methacrylate beads, all of which 3 pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a grain meal.

4. A composition of matter comprising polymerized methyl methacrylate beads, all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a corn meal.

5. A composition of matter comprising a mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads, all of which pass a #40 U. S. Stanard screen, a Wax and a grain meal, wherein the polymerized methyl methacrylate beads constitute 5% to 15% by weight of such mixture.

6. A composition of matter comprising a mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads, all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a corn meal, wherein the polymerized methyl methacrylate beads constitute 5% to 15% by weight of such mixture.

I. A composition of matter comprising a mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads, all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and are retained on a #60 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a grain meal.

8. A composition of matter comprising a mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads, all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and are retained on a #60 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a corn meal. 9. A composition of matter comprising a mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and are retained on a #60 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a grain meal, wherein the polymerized methyl methacrylate beads constitute 5% to 15% by weight of such mixture. I

A composition of matter comprising a mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and are retained on a #60 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a corn meal, wherein the polymerized methyl methacrylate beads constitute 5% to by weight of such mixture.

11. A composition of matter comprising an intimate mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and at least 80% of which are retained on a U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a grain meal all of which passes a #40 U. S. Standard screen and is retained on a #90 U. S. Standard screen.

12. A composition of matter comprising an intimate mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and at least of which are retained on a #60 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a corn meal all of which passes a #40 U. S. Standard screen and is retained on a U. S. Standard screen.

13. A composition of matter comprising an intimate mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and at least 80% of which are retained on a #60 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a grain meal all of which passes a #40 U. S. Standard screen and is retained on a #90 U.,S. Standard screen, wherein the polymerized methyl methacrylate beads constitute 5% to 15% by weight of such mixture.

14. A composition of matter comprising an intimate mixture of polymerized methyl methacrylate beads all of which pass a #40 U. S. Standard screen and. at least 80% of which are retained on a #60 U. S. Standard screen, a wax and a corn meal all of which passes a #40 U. S. Standard screen and is retained on a #90 U. S. Standard screen, wherein the polymerized methyl methacrylate beads constitute 5% to 15% by weight of such mixture.

CARMINE DECEPOL No references cited. 

